Let's Connect
Whenever you sit down to plan a meeting, there are probably a number of questions floating around in your head.
“What’s the biggest problem challenging the attendees or my team right now?”
“How do I provide the most value for them so they feel good about stepping away from their work for a period of time?”
“Can I find a way to make this experience entertaining and engaging as well as educational?”
If your attendees are anything like most people, there are a few topics out there that could bring a breath of fresh air to these individuals, no matter what industry or role they work in.
Many employees are currently struggling with their emotional, mental, and even physical health. The pandemic has served as a collective trauma, and left many with unexpected challenges. When deciding on the focus of your next meeting, you may want to consider how to incorporate an aspect of wellness into your event.
Potential Problems Ahead
When employers neglect to focus on employees’ wellbeing, the bottom line is sure to suffer. Overworked and under-appreciated employees experience higher levels of stress and more instances of illnesses that can lead to sick days and decreased productivity. Without intervention, these employees will become disengaged and will often seek new opportunities outside of the organization. And we all know how much money and time it cost to retrain new team members.
The situation is slightly better within organizations that foster a culture of teamwork. These employees often feel supported by their coworkers and are able to handle challenges better.
While a strong team can help, it’s still essential that you keep your employees’ mental, emotional, and physical health as a top priority. It seems that in today’s offices, conventions, meetings, and special events, health and wellness programs are becoming the “new normal”.
Wellness in the Workplace
Employees spend more time at work than anywhere else (at least while they’re awake). There are a number of ways to create a positive work environment that will improve employee health rather than take away from it, and many of these ideas can be incorporated into events as well. Some of the options to consider when it comes to wellness programs include:
Encouraging and rewarding exercise
Opportunities and space for meditation
Access to healthy food
Concierge services
Flexible work schedules
And many more
There’s also one that you may have never even thought of… drumming.
Health Benefits of Drumming
If you’re currently imagining people standing around a campfire, swaying to a rhythm of their own design, you aren’t far off. Scientists have been studying the effects of music on our health for years and have discovered a number of physical, emotional, and mental benefits. Some of these include:
Increased happiness: Drumming releases endorphins, “feel-good” chemicals that relieve pain and boost happiness.
Boosts immune response: Barry Mittman, MD, a neurologist and President of the Yamaha Music and Wellness Institute, found that group drumming naturally increases T-cells that help protect the body from infection and can even help fight cancer.
Creates a sense of connectedness: According to Christine Northrup, M.D., “Drumming circles and group drumming classes provide an opportunity for ‘synchronicity’ in that you connect with your own spirit at a deeper level while also connecting with other like-minded people.”
Allows you to be present: Drumming helps take you out of the “past and future” trap and allows you to be present in the moment.
These are just a few of the many health benefits. Now, let’s take a look at how drumming can improve business when it’s incorporated into meetings.
Business Benefits of Drumming
In case the business benefits of drumming didn’t jump out at you in that last section, let’s go one by one and see how those health benefits are great for your organization as well.
Increased happiness: Drumming is fun! Who couldn’t use a break from the daily grind to rock out and put a smile on their face?
Immune response: Healthier employees who are better able to fight off infection take fewer sick days and are more productive.
Sense of connectedness: Looking for a way to improve teamwork and encourage your employees to work together and support one another? Look no further.
Be present: Would you prefer employees to be distracted, stressing about the past and worrying about the future, or would you like them to be in the moment, focused on the task at hand?
Rhythms in Business
When Marvelless Mark was crafting his Rhythms in Business keynote, he didn’t set out to incorporate a health and wellness program into his presentation… but that’s just what he did!
Now that he’s seen the scientific data on the benefits of drumming, and received feedback from meeting planners and attendees, he knows it’s a win-win. For the convention attendees, the meeting planners, and for him.
When you plan your next meeting, consider including the power of drumming in your program. Your attendees will have fun, lower their stress levels, enhance their team communication, and be able to return to work with a new excitement surrounding their job.
If you’re looking for a way to energize your team, create happier and healthier employees, and improve your organization as a whole, it’s time to bring out their inner rockstars. The bonus, they all get to keep the conference branded drumsticks and receive an additional benefit of the power of collaboration and teamwork.